Bowie, James

popular hero of the Texas Revolution (1835–36) who is mainly remembered for his part in the Battle of the Alamo (February–March 1836).

Bowie migrated with his parents to Missouri (1800) and then to Louisiana (1802). At 18 he left home, clearing land and sawing timber for a living. Later he reportedly engaged in the slave trade with his brothers John and Rezin.
With the latter he also bought and improved a sugar plantation in Louisiana, where he served for a time in the state legislature and spent much time in New Orleans society.

After he reportedly killed a man in a duel, Bowie went to Texas about 1828, where at Bexar (now San Antonio) he became friendly with the Mexican vice governor, Juan Martín de Veramendi. He assumed Mexican citizenship, acquired land grants, and married Veramendi's daughter, Ursula (1831). He was one of thousands of U.S. settlers and adventurers who swelled the non-Mexican population in Texas, and restrictive Mexican legislation to curb the newcomers soon interested him in the Texas revolutionary movement. As a colonel in the Texas army, he fought with distinction in several battles and finally joined Col. William B. Travis in the gallant defense of the Alamo, an abandoned mission house in San Antonio. Already confined to his cot by illness, Bowie was killed with the other defenders when the Alamo finally fell to numerically superior Mexican forces.

Bowie's daring and courage have become legendary through Western song and ballad. His name is also associated with the Bowie knife, a weapon (sometimes called the “Arkansas toothpick”) invented by either him or his brother Rezin.

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Bowie,James — Bow·ie (bo͞oʹē, bōʹē), James. 1796 1836. American born Mexican colonist who joined the Texan forces during the struggle for independence from Mexico. He died during the defense of the Alamo. * * * … Universalium

James Bowie — For other people named James Bowie, see James Bowie (disambiguation). James Jim Bowie Nickname Jim Bowie … Wikipedia

James Bowie — noun United States pioneer and hero of the Texas revolt against Mexico; he shared command of the garrison that resisted the Mexican attack on the Alamo where he died (1796 1836) • Syn: ↑Bowie, ↑Jim Bowie • Instance Hypernyms: ↑pioneer * * * James … Useful english dictionary

Bowie — Bo|wie, David (1947 ) an English singer, songwriter, and actor who was extremely successful in the 1970s. His records, such as The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) influenced many later musicians. Bowie 2 Bowie,… … Dictionary of contemporary English

James — /jaymz/, n. 1. Also called James the Great. one of the 12 apostles, the son of Zebedee and brother of the apostle John. Matt. 4:21. 2. the person identified in Gal. 1:19 as a brother of Jesus: probably the author of the Epistle of St. James. 3.… … Universalium

Bowie knife — specifically refers to a style of knife popularized by Colonel James Jim Bowie and first made by James Black, although its common use refers to any large sheath knife with a clip point. Description The historical Bowie was not a single design,… … Wikipedia